Football club "bitterly disappointed" at decision to refuse permission for Kirby facility

Proposals for a 拢400m stadium to house Everton football club have been blocked by the government following a public enquiry.

The club is expected to confirm today that plans for the 50,000-seat facility in Kirby will not go ahead after the communities department ruled the move would drain jobs and spending from the local economy.

The stadium had been planned as part of a new retail park in partnership with Tesco and would have allowed the team to relocate from Goodison Park, a move it hoped would boost revenue by 拢6m a year.

Robert Elstone, Everton chief executive, has said he is "bitterly disappointed" by the government's decision.

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